GWS Giants AFLW 2025- a season of renewal and resolve
with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin
The GWS Giants enter the 2025 AFLW season with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to rebound from the challenges of 2024. After finishing 16th with just one win, one draw and nine losses, the Giants have undergone a significant transformation, blending promising youth with seasoned talent in the hope of forging a more competitive identity.
The off-season was marked by notable player changes. Veterans Chloe Dalton and Pepa Randall retired, while Nicola Barr moved to St Kilda and Courtney Murphy joined Essendon. Haneen Zreika is inactive due to pregnancy, and Meghan Gaffney is sidelined with an ACL injury.
Tarni Evans in action. Credit: Mark Metcalfe Getty Images.
These departures opened the door for fresh recruits, including Irish talent Grace Kos, former Western Bulldog Eleanor Brown, and Adelaide’ s Taylah Levy, who has kicked five goals across her 16-game AFLW career. Draft picks Sara Howley and Grace Martin also joined the squad. Depth has been bolstered by injury replacement players Vivien Saad, Sophie Kavanagh and Caitlin Fletcher.
At the heart of the Giants’ midfield is Alyce Parker, a tough inside ball-winner and one of the competition’ s most consistent performers. Her leadership will be vital as the team rebuilds. Captain Rebecca Beeson, the club’ s reigning best and fairest, brings poise and vision, while young recruit Sara Howley is expected to add pace and creativity.
Ruck Fleur Davies is tipped for a breakout season. After an off-season spent in Darwin fishing and labouring, she has returned both mentally and physically stronger, ready to make an impact.
Head coach Cam Bernasconi, now in his fourth season at the helm, remains committed to developing a resilient and united squad. His emphasis on character, culture and community continues to shape the Giants’ identity, with opportunities given to nurture young talent.
He is supported by a strong coaching panel, including former Magpies player Georgia Walker, ex-Giants Academy and NEAFL coach Darren Ratten, forwards coach Jon Vlatko( East Coast Eagles), midfield coach and threetime SANFL premiership player Trent Goodman, backline coach Brent Chapman, strategy coach Michael Horne, ruck coach and former AFLW premiership player Rhiannon Metcalfe, and development coach Steven Cramp.
The Giants will once again call Blacktown International Sports Park home, a venue that has become central to their AFLW journey. Their commitment to Western Sydney remains unwavering, with community engagement and grassroots development continuing to sit at the heart of the club’ s mission. Squad snapshot Midfield Core: Alyce Parker, Rebecca Beeson, Zarlie Goldsworthy( former Western Magic junior), Sara Howley, Mikayla Pauga.
Defence: Isabel Huntington, Daisy Walker, Emily Pease, Eleanor Brown.
Giants Girls celebrate a goal. Credit: Mark Metcalfe Getty Images.
Forwards: Brodee Mowbray( leading goalkicker in 2024 with five goals), Georgia Garnett, Taylah Levy. Rucks: Fleur Davies, Eilish O’ Dowd. New Faces to Watch: Grace Martin,
Grace Kos, Caitlin Fletcher.
While the Giants may not be ready to challenge for a premiership just yet, 2025 shapes as a pivotal year in their evolution. With a more balanced fixture, a deeper list and some shrewd recruitment, the club aims to climb out of the bottom tier and re-establish itself as a competitive force. The focus will be on consistency, developing young talent and building a brand of football that reflects the grit, resilience and diversity of Western Sydney. The Giants promise to bring an exciting brand of footy to the field in 202, and they will certainly be a team to watch.
Sydney Kabaddi Club- blending heritage with modern sporting excellence with Matt“ Duck Man” Austin
Western Sydney is one of the most diverse multicultural regions in Australia, home to residents from more than 170 countries who speak over 100 different languages. From a sporting perspective, the area thrives, with more than 600 sports played across all levels from grassroots participation to elite competition. Yet chances are, you’ ve never heard of the next sport in this story.
In the heart of Blacktown, the Sydney Kabaddi Club stands as a proud symbol of tradition, athleticism, and cultural unity. Kabaddi, which originated in ancient India, became a competitive sport in the 1920s. Today, it enjoys a passionate following in Australia and the Sydney Kabaddi Club is at the forefront of the movement, blending heritage with modern sporting excellence.
Kabaddi is a fast-paced, high intensity contact sport that combines elements of wrestling, tag, and rugby. It is played between two teams of seven, with players alternating between raiders and stoppers.
The objective is deceptively simple- a raider must enter the opposing team’ s half, tag as many defenders as possible, and return safely to their own side all within 30
seconds without being tackled. Successful tags score points for the raiding team, while defenders earn points for stopping the raider. Tagged or tackled players are temporarily out but can re-join once their team scores.
Think of it as contact dodgeball without the ball, but with all the drama, intensity, and physicality.
Kabaddi is more than just a game; it is a cultural expression. For many in Australia’ s Indian and Punjabi communities, the sport provides a vital link to their heritage. The Sydney Kabaddi Club was established to preserve and promote this tradition while offering a sense of belonging to its members.
The club is a regular participant in major events such as the Australian Sikh Games, often referred to as the‘ mini-Sikh Olympics’. These games attract thousands of athletes and spectators from across the country, with Kabaddi always a headline event. For the Sydney Kabaddi Club, these appearances highlight both the athleticism of its players and the cultural importance of the sport.
The Sydney Kabaddi Club trains athletes in both the traditional Punjabi style and the modern international format. Training is rigorous, with a strong
focus on strength, agility, and tactical awareness. Athletes of all skill levels are welcomed, from seasoned professionals to curious newcomers with coaching that emphasises discipline, teamwork, and respect.
One of the club’ s most important initiatives is its youth development program. Recognising the need to engage younger generations, the club offers training sessions for children and teenagers. In recent years, junior players have competed in national competitions such as the Australian Sikh Games, making history for the sport. Parents often remark on how Kabaddi not only builds confidence and fitness but also helps their children connect with the Punjabi language, cultural traditions, and lifelong friendships.
In May 2024, the club hosted the Sydney Kabaddi Cup, an event that combined thrilling competition with vibrant cultural performances, including bhangra dancing. Through partnerships with local organisations and appearances at national tournaments, the Sydney Kabaddi Club continues to raise the sport’ s
Credit: Sydney Kabaddi Club.
profile in Australia.
Looking ahead, Kabaddi’ s momentum is only set to grow. On 29 March 2026, Blacktown will host the Kabaddi World Cup, featuring teams from more than 50 countries including Australia, New Zealand, England, India, Pakistan, the USA, and Afghanistan.
More than 10,000 spectators are expected to attend, marking a landmark moment for the sport in the southern hemisphere.
With its commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and cultural preservation, the Sydney Kabaddi Club is doing more than training athletes; it is building a legacy. By uniting tradition with modern competition, the club is ensuring that Kabaddi has a lasting place in both Australia’ s sporting and cultural landscape.
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 54 // SEPTEMBER 2025 21